Distant opposition — what it means in chess
The opposition held across several squares of a file or rank.
The opposition held across several squares of a file or rank.
[[board startfen="8/4k3/8/8/8/8/8/4K3 w - - 0 1" pgn="Ke2 Ke6 Ke3 Ke5" caption="Five squares between the kings and White to move: Black holds the distant opposition — and holds it all the way down to the direct form, answering each approach on the same file." notes="Kings alone, five squares apart on the e-file. An odd gap with the opponent to move: Black holds the distant opposition before a single move is played. White approaches, shrinking the gap to four. Black answers on the same file: three squares between, White to move again. The odd count is restored, and the grip is unchanged. White closes once more. And Black converts: one square between, White to move — direct opposition, still Black's. The long-range hold became the close-range hold without ever changing hands. Add a pawn to either side of this duel and the count decides who wins, who draws, and who arrives one tempo late."]]
Distant opposition is opposition at range: kings on the same rank, file, or diagonal with three or five squares between them, and the player not on move holds it. Its whole value is a guarantee: held correctly, distant opposition converts into direct opposition as the kings close, without the count ever changing hands. Hold it at five squares and you will hold it at one — the line above is that promise carried out in four plies, the gap falling five, three, one, with White on move at every meeting.
The Endgame Society glossary defines more than 240 chess terms — rules, notation, tactics, strategy, pawn structures, endgames, and openings — in language a beginner can act on rather than dictionary shorthand.